Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 218 Sincere Daniel

Lin Yan, returning on his sword, landed lightly on the lawn in his courtyard, his shoes barely touching the dewy grass.

Almost simultaneously, a figure appeared not far to his side—it was Charles. Only after recognizing Lin Yan and sensing the disappearance of the source of the triggered array did Charles's tense aura relax. He quickly stepped forward, his gaze falling on Lin Yan's still-wet, dripping clothes, his face filled with worry:

"Young Master, where did you go last night...? Look at your clothes..."

Only after being reminded did Lin Yan belatedly look down at his own "outfit" and exclaim, "Oh, I was so busy flying back that I forgot to dry myself off!" He looked up at Charles's expression, which seemed to want to say something but hesitated to speak directly, and couldn't help but smile. "What, Charles, are you saying I look like a drowned rat?"

Charles quickly bowed, his tone tinged with a helpless smile: "No, no, young master, how could I dare? I was just worried about you. It's chilly at night, and it's not good to wear wet clothes."

"Alright, I know you're loyal." Lin Yan waved his hand and walked towards the villa in a good mood. "I'll go tidy up now."

Back in his spacious bedroom, Lin Yan had a sudden thought and slipped into the small courtyard of his spatial dimension. He went straight into the bathroom, took off his wet clothes, and enjoyed a comfortable bath. He swallowed a top-grade Soul-Replenishing Pill; the warm spiritual spring and the pill not only washed away the saltiness of the seawater but also nourished his soul, which was slightly tired from a night of enlightenment.

A moment later, he changed into a clean coat and khaki pants, and appeared in the bedroom looking refreshed. He picked up his schoolbag, and Wang Yuling handed him two lunchboxes before he left. Just like any ordinary high school student, Lin Yan went to school.

During the morning meeting, Mike sensed that Lin Yan was acting differently today, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. She was enigmatic.

At noon, the "four-person lunch buddy group" gathered again in their usual corner of the cafeteria. Today, Wang Yuling had prepared fragrant beer-braised duck and tender, flavorful steamed pork with sweet potato flour, which they ate without even looking up. Finally, Lin Yan took out a large thermos from the bag, filled with chilled freshly squeezed orange juice, and poured a glass for each of them.

Daniel sipped his sweet and sour, icy orange juice, a satisfied look on his face. But as if he had made up his mind, he suddenly put down his glass, took out several ten-dollar bills from his old wallet with a somewhat solemn expression, and pushed them in front of Lin Yan.

Lin Yan stared at the banknote, then paused, "Daniel, what do you mean by this?"

Daniel pushed up his glasses, his cheeks slightly flushed, and said in a soft but earnest voice, "Lin, since the first day of school, I've... I've been having lunch with you every day. The food you bring is so delicious, I can't help myself every time... But my mom told me that I shouldn't keep taking advantage of my friends, that it's wrong. So... this is my allowance, I'm giving it to you for lunch now, although I know it might not be nearly enough... I... I'll try to save up more for you next time." He lowered his head shyly, the tips of his ears turning red.

Mike and Tom then realized what was happening. Looking at Daniel's serious yet embarrassed expression, and then at Lin Yan's bewildered look, they couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Lin Yan smiled and gently pushed the fifty dollars back to Daniel, his tone mild: "Daniel, I appreciate your kind offer. But I really don't need the money." Seeing the disappointment and even more embarrassment on Daniel's face, he changed the subject, "However, you could do me a favor to pay for the meal, how about it?"

Daniel immediately looked up, his eyes behind his glasses lighting up: "Really? What is it? As long as I can do it!"

Lin Yan feigned a troubled expression and sighed, "You see, I'm a bit busy after school. I have to play basketball, practice piano, and violin. I also have homework to do every day, it's really a bit of a hassle. How about you help me with my homework every day from now on? It shouldn't be too difficult for you, right?"

"Huh?" Daniel was stunned; he hadn't expected this.

Mike and Tom exchanged knowing glances. Tom nudged Mike with his elbow and whispered, "Wow, hiring a genius to do homework, that's so cool!"

Mike chuckled, "Looks like we'll have to keep eating lunch!"

Daniel looked into Lin Yan's smiling eyes and understood his intention. This wasn't charity, but a special kind of help and exchange between friends. His heart warmed, and he nodded vigorously, a relieved smile spreading across his face: "Okay! No problem! Leave it to me!"

"Deal!" Lin Yan raised his orange juice glass. "Cheers to our future 'cooperation'!"

The four boys' cups clinked together, making a crisp sound, and lunch continued in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. For Daniel, a huge weight had finally been lifted from his heart; and for Lin Yan, it felt good to be able to protect his friend's self-esteem in this "mutually beneficial" way.